The Cantatas of J. S. Bach With Their Librettos in German-English Parallel Text

by Dürr, Alfred; Jones, Richard D. P.

• ISBN13: 9780198167075
• ISBN10: 0198167075
• Edition: Bilingual
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-08-11
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

This is the only English translation of this important book by the world's most distinguished Bach scholar. This work is widely regarded as the most authoritative and comprehensive treatment of the Bach cantatas. It begins with a historical survey of the seventeenth-century background to thecantatas, and performance practice issues. The core of the book is a work-by-work study in which each cantata in turn is represented by its libretto, a synopsis of its movements, and a detailed analytical commentary. This format makes it extremely useful as a reference work for anyone listening to,performing in, or studying any of the Bach cantatas.In this edition all the cantata librettos are given in German-English parallel text. The most recent (sixth) German edition appeared in 1995. For the English edition the text has been carefully revised to bring it up to date, taking account of Bach scholarship since that date.

Author Biography

Alfred Durr is one of the principal editors of the Neue Bach Ausgabe in which he edited "Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier." He holds honorary doctorates of music at Baldwin-Wallace College, Ohio and at Oxford University.
Richard Jones is a Bach scholar who has been a music editor, writer, and teacher since 1980. He studied at the University of Oxford and has taught at the universities of Cardiff and Sheffield. In 1997 he became the editor of the piano grade exam pieces for the Associated Board.

Table of Contents

List of illustrations

Abbreviations

Introduction to Bach's cantatas

History of the cantata before Bach

Development of the Bach Cantata

Performance practice in Bach's cantatas

Church Cantatas

Cantatas for the church year: Advent to Trinity

Cantatas for the church year: First to Twenty-seventh Sunday after Trinity

The Marian Feasts

The Feast of St John the Baptist

The Feast of the Archangel Michael

The Reformation Festival

Church and Organ Consecration

Council Elections

Weddings

Funerals

Various occasions

Secular Cantatas

Festive music for the courts of Weimar, Wessenfels, and Cothen

Festive music for the Electoral House of Saxony

Festive music for Leipzig University celebrations

Festive music for Leipzig council and school celebrations

Leipzig music of homage for nobles and burghers

Weddings

Various occasions

Appendix: Doubtful and spurious cantatas

Bibliography

Indices

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